NAACP Head Nixes TV Pilot

NAACP President and CEO Kweisi Mfume has asked producers of a proposed syndicated TV talk show featuring Mfume as the host not to market the pilot of the show.

The existence of the prototype, which was produced by Hearst-Argyle Television in association with NBC’s syndication division, NBC Enterprises, was reported in The Times a week ago. Days earlier, Mfume had blasted NBC and the other major networks during an NAACP press conference, charging that there continues to be a lack of progress by the networks to fulfill commitments made more than a year ago to increase diversity in front of and behind the camera.

The pilot, involving a division of one of the networks targeted by the NAACP, raised the question of whether Mfume’s credibility as a leading force in the diversity effort would be compromised.

Mfume’s decision to pull back from the proposed talk show was announced in an NAACP press release issued Thursday. Mfume’s request to the producers effectively kills the project, a “Donahue”-style topical format similar to a regionally based talk show he has hosted in Baltimore for several years.

“I have asked Hearst-Argyle and others not to attempt to market the one-hour presentation tape that was produced last month in Boston,” Mfume said in the release. “Although I am convinced that there is no effort by anyone to shop or market it, I hope that this further public action on my part underscores my intention that I will always do all that I can to avoid even the slightest perception of a conflict of interest.”

Mfume added in the statement: “I do hope, however, that others see the magnitude of fighting to create equal opportunity for African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and Native Americans.... The NAACP has continued to point out that broadcast television, as the most dominant medium ever known, must reflect the true diversity of America in all facets of its operation.”

Hearst-Argyle and NBC Enterprises executives could not be reached for comment regarding the status of the TV pilot. A spokeswoman for Mfume declined to elaborate on the press release.

The civil rights leader formerly headed a multiethnic coalition that was formed about two years ago to press for more diversity at the networks in front of and behind the camera. By later 1999, all four major networks had signed agreements with the coalition promising to increase minority representation in both creative and executive ranks.

After the initial reports of the TV pilot, Mfume defended the show, saying that he did not see a conflict of interest in his participation. He said Hearst-Argyle had been trying to syndicate the locally based show for several years, and that the recently filmed pilot was just the latest attempt.

He maintained that no contracts had been signed with any station around the country. He added, “The larger overriding issue is that I would never admit or allow any conflict of interest even to be perceived if in fact any economic action is taken against any individual network which theoretically could be construed as a competitor [to NBC].”

The pilot generated some controversy within the black creative community and others, but Mfume was not publicly criticized.

At last week’s press conference, Mfume threatened to press for an economic boycott against one of the networks if there is not immediate drastic improvement. He plans to meet with the civil rights organization’s board of directors this October to discuss the issue and take possible action.